welfare state

American  

noun

1. a state in which the welfare of the people in such matters as social security, health and education, housing, and working conditions is the responsibility of the government.

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welfare state British  

noun

1. a system in which the government undertakes the chief responsibility for providing for the social and economic security of its population, usually through unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, and other social-security measures

2. a social system characterized by such policies

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welfare state ¹ Cultural  

1. An economic system that combines features of capitalism and socialism by retaining private ownership while the government enacts broad programs of social welfare, such as pensions and public housing.

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welfare state ² Cultural  

1. A state or government that promotes public welfare through programs of public health, pensions, unemployment compensation, public housing, and the like. The expression welfare state is often used by those hostile to government intervention in these areas.

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Etymology

Origin of welfare state

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

The idea was that a well-constructed welfare state could deliver the same material standard of living as America’s cowboy capitalism, or better.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

“I call this the social welfare state of two. We’ve privatized dependency within marriage.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

In the wide-ranging interview, Jackson also cited the role of the welfare state in supporting his "incredible single mum" who was studying while bringing him and his siblings up.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

In the Danish city of Kolding, voters are worried about rising prices, the welfare state and immigration ahead of the country's general election, reflecting nationwide concerns reinforced by worries about Greenland and global uncertainty.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

By this argument, belief in demonic magic ought not to have declined until there was a general improvement in living standards, and perhaps not until the development of the welfare state.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• social democracy